"You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That's why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence."~Octavia
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"You don't start out writing good stuff. You start out writing crap and thinking it's good stuff, and then gradually you get better at it. That's why I say one of the most valuable traits is persistence."~Octavia Butler

So what happens when you believe that what you are writing is crap? How do you handle how truly awful your writing is? I have a young friend who writes the most god awful poetry on the surface of the pieces but the weird thing is as you read her simple and childish rhymes you begin to see a world of depth and amazing imagery just below the surface. How would you handle that if this was describing you?

I tend to ramble. A lot. And I used to be really bad about it in my writing.

I started asking friends to read my stuff, and editors to be brutally honest. After a few complete rewrites (and a couple meltdowns), I started looking for the things they pointed out before sending my stuff to them. Really putting some effort into correcting the things people were pointing out to me repeatedly.

In the case of your friend, I'd probably do more reading in the area I enjoy. Stuff by authors who are considered good at what they do. Then I'd work on reframing my imagery so that it was more mature, but still sounded like me.

I tend to ramble. A lot. And I used to be really bad about it in my writing.

I started asking friends to read my stuff, and editors to be brutally honest. After a few complete rewrites (and a couple meltdowns), I started looking for the
...

I tend to ramble. A lot. And I used to be really bad about it in my writing.

I started asking friends to read my stuff, and editors to be brutally honest. After a few complete rewrites (and a couple meltdowns), I started looking for the things they pointed out before sending my stuff to them. Really putting some effort into correcting the things people were pointing out to me repeatedly.

In the case of your friend, I'd probably do more reading in the area I enjoy. Stuff by authors who are considered good at what they do. Then I'd work on reframing my imagery so that it was more mature, but still sounded like me.

~nod that was the advice I gave her....she is young and I am confident her work will mature as she does.

For me it was the opposite. I had a very critical relationship with my mom who was my harshest critic and she stifled my creativity for many years. I had to start to believe in myself and what I had to say, and how I said it. I have a tendency to get into too much back story and detail so that was the area I focus on when I begin to feel that panic feeling setting in.

~nod that was the advice I gave her....she is young and I am confident her work will mature as she does.

For me it was the opposite. I had a very critical relationship with my mom who was my harshest critic and she stifled my creativity for
...

~nod that was the advice I gave her....she is young and I am confident her work will mature as she does.

For me it was the opposite. I had a very critical relationship with my mom who was my harshest critic and she stifled my creativity for many years. I had to start to believe in myself and what I had to say, and how I said it. I have a tendency to get into too much back story and detail so that was the area I focus on when I begin to feel that panic feeling setting in.

I too ramp up insane amounts of backstory. I feel like I have to reinvent the wheel because there's no way I could convey the importance of each event leading up to the "now moment".

Stop staring out of windows. That is the biggest killer of creativity (for me). It's like "whoops, where'd that thought go?".

I call it, "Look! A butterfly!" Syndrome. Then again if you are truly stumped you can always begin by describing what it outside the window. What your neighbors are doing behind those closed drapes....what that cat is really thinking as it wanders around during the day....and so on and so forth!

I think words are a tool, or they are a weapon. It takes a talented writer to understand, know and believe in the differences while skillfully and properly wielding them. If it isn't just *perfect*, a writing's heart and soul can be lost,
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I think words are a tool, or they are a weapon. It takes a talented writer to understand, know and believe in the differences while skillfully and properly wielding them. If it isn't just *perfect*, a writing's heart and soul can be lost, pushed aside or discredited.

If it isn't just *perfect*, a writing's heart and soul can be lost, pushed aside or discredited.

~nod that was the advice I gave her....she is young and I am confident her work will mature as she does.

For me it was the opposite. I had a very critical relationship with my mom who was my harshest critic and she stifled my creativity for
...

~nod that was the advice I gave her....she is young and I am confident her work will mature as she does.

For me it was the opposite. I had a very critical relationship with my mom who was my harshest critic and she stifled my creativity for many years. I had to start to believe in myself and what I had to say, and how I said it. I have a tendency to get into too much back story and detail so that was the area I focus on when I begin to feel that panic feeling setting in.

For a second, I thought you were talking about ME! lol... Or were you... hmm...

If it isn't just *perfect*, a writing's heart and soul can be lost, pushed aside or discredited.

^ describes me ^

The thing to remember is that while YOU may not see it as perfect I would be willing to bet that SOMEONE will. The object is to get it out of your head on paper and then let it live for someone else. There will be things you didn't say that will be strong as well as the things you ARE saying.

Let go of the fear and the words will fly for themselves. What someone else thinks is never as soul destroying as having a story ready to be told living inside of you and having it die from starvation....I believe that every story feeds off the energy of the reader. Deep huh?

Lollie and Stormy have hit the issue on the head. The real cause of writer's block isn't truly loss of creativity but fear of being less than brilliant. It's often the first paragraph that gives writer's fits....the first words....the
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Lollie and Stormy have hit the issue on the head. The real cause of writer's block isn't truly loss of creativity but fear of being less than brilliant. It's often the first paragraph that gives writer's fits....the first words....the title even!

Do you think that it's the FEAR of not having the words that lays behind the writer's block? Or is it fear of writing ill conceived and ill received works at the root of the block?

All of the above. I fear my mishaps: spelling, wording and such. Then not coming together the way I may have wanted. Sometimes it's just getting started and getting into the flow.

BINGO! I get lost in all the minute details leading up to the main event and then get tired of writing...it drives Arch absolutely insane.

Exactly...it's also hard to write an ending for a story that hasn't ended yet. I've got one hell of a story to tell but I feel like any ending I try to create to close the novel will be an "art imitating life/life imitating art" scenario and that could get messy. (i.e. kill off the main protagonist, i.e. me...etc.)

I could leave it open ended but I hate books that do that and then there's never a sequel.

There's also an abject fear of success. Say I did write that NYT best seller, do I want to be one of those writers forced to work under contract churning out formulaic novel after novel?

All of the above. I fear my mishaps: spelling, wording and such. Then not coming together the way I may have wanted. Sometimes it's just getting started and getting into the flow.

These are the most common fears writer's have. Sometimes the only way to confront them is to just sit down and continue writing. Even if it's crap. If it is crap then PROUDLY write your crap, lots of authors think their work is crap and then it's suddenly a classic piece of literature!
The Christmas Carol was just a twiddle to make some money after the novel Martin Chuzzlewit failed miserably!

Exactly...it's also hard to write an ending for a story that hasn't ended yet. I've got one hell of a story to tell but I feel like any ending I try to create to close the novel will be an "art imitating life/life imitating
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Exactly...it's also hard to write an ending for a story that hasn't ended yet. I've got one hell of a story to tell but I feel like any ending I try to create to close the novel will be an "art imitating life/life imitating art" scenario and that could get messy. (i.e. kill off the main protagonist, i.e. me...etc.)

I could leave it open ended but I hate books that do that and then there's never a sequel.

There's also an abject fear of success. Say I did write that NYT best seller, do I want to be one of those writers forced to work under contract churning out formulaic novel after novel?

The weird and wonderful ways we stop ourselves, no? Sit down, shut up and write to coin a phrase!

I will be adding some writing exercises aimed at helping people who are suffering from writer's block a chance to just be creative, silly and totally crappy. In fact some of the freaky friday exercises will be aimed at writing total crap....seeing who can make the biggest stinky pile of refuse out there.

Maybe if we can learn to laugh at ourselves we can get the fear out of the way so creativity can flow.